Container insert for maintaining contents in elevated position



Dec. 29, 1942. F. cHr-:sLEY 2,306,613

CONTAINER INSERT FOR MAINTAINING CONTENTS IN ELEVATED POSITION Filed 0G11. 5l, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I F. CHEsLEY CONTAINER INSERT FOR MAINTAINING CONTENTS IN ELEVATED POSITION v Dec. 29, 1942.

Filed Oct. 3l. 1940 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. Z9, 1942 UNITED STATE CONTAINER INSERT FOR MAINTAINING CONTENTS IN ELEVATED POSITION Frank ohesley, Cincinnati, ohio,V Application october 31, 1940, seria-1 No. 363,771 v 4 claims. (c1. gos-41.1)

This invention relates to container attachments and particularly to means for elevating the contents into ready reach for removal, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

In order to preserve freshness as well as the proper physical characteristic of many products, manufacturers resort to various means of packaging their products and one of the most practical has been to package the goods in a suitably coated paper container which is finally housed in an outer container which may be of metal` or paper, as conditions demand. 'Ihe package of smoking tobacco is one `example of such packaging of a product, and while the present description deals with this paritcular commodity, it is not limited thereto, for there are many products which require the same treatment in packaging as well as in the dispensing thereof.

With this brief rsum of the prior packaging art, it is the cardinal object of the invention to provide a novel container insert of a collapsible character whichwill effectively maintain a partially used package of goods at an elevated position and within finger-tip reach of a user. In

doing so, it also makes it possible-to use upper part of the lining as a fold to maintain a closure for the product insuring freshness, as well as cleanliness. l V- Y It is a further object of theinvention to provide a means which is cooperable with a container and package of contents therewithin to maintain the package in an elevated position, without necessitating any change whatever either in th package or thel container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an insert of extreme simplicity in manufacture, installation, and one which meets a longfelt need of users of the commodities specified.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a support means of a collapsible nature, yet which in operative position will retain a substantial weight or pressure.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a tobacco can having my device installed therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional View on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my invention.

Figure 4 isa perspective view of a modified form of the device, in inoperative position,

Figure 5-is a similar view illustrating an operative position of the ports. Y Y Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the insertion of the insert with a package of goods with a container.A

Figure '7 is a similar View illustrating the relation of the parts when in final position within a container.

Figure is a View similar to Figure '7, with the contents package in elevated position.

Figure 9 is anenlar-ged plan View illustrating a means for reinforcing the elevating supporting means. Y f

Figure 10 is a plan view of arblank for a 'furtherform of the device.

Inasmuch as the present description confined to well known commercial packages of tobacco, the illustrations `have been likewiseilimited thereto, and in Figures 1 and 2, I have illustrated a conventional metallic container ID including a lid il lV hinged as at I2.l f Since the container Vis well understood in the art, a lengthy description of its construction will not be dealt with, although it may be stated that in all commercial types of containers now on the market embody inturned hinge leaves I3 which function as stripping means in connection with the present invention, as will appear as the description proceeds.

Attention is now directed to Figure 3 of the drawings wherein my preferred form of insert is shown, which consistsv in a collapsible form comprising a main body portion I4 of a length equal to the height from the leaves-I3 to the base l5 of the container I0, from which there is integrally extended a portion I6 of a width to fit snugly upon the package to be placed within thecontainer I0. An extension` I'l is extended upwardly from the base portion I6, adapted to lie parallel with the mainbody portion I4.

The body portionY I4, the base portion I6 and the extension I1 are of th same Width transversely, and the base portion I6 is such as to readily seat a package of tobacco and be receivable within the container. The main body portion Mis of a length such as to permit the upper edge to fall below the hinge leaf portions I3 and be engaged thereby to prevent withdrawal of the insert as will be explained hereinafter.

The extension I'I includes at respective end edges, a portion I 8 folded vertically on the line I9, and similarly folded on the line 20, defining a freely swinging portion 2|, the latter being disposed toward the medial portion of the insert.

The extension I1 is approximately one-half the height of the main body I4, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, for a purpose as will presently appear.

In installing my device within a container, a package of tobacco as finally packed and sealed, is positioned with its bottom end upon the base portion I so as to extend upwardly between the main body I4 and the extension I1, the portions I8 and 2| lying snugly folded against one side of the package. The package and insert is now forced into the container I0 by a light pressure Y until the insert base I6 rests upon the base I5 of the container. When the insertion of the package and insert was made, the body portion I4 was presented toward the hinge I2 of the cover II, and

when the assembly is fully positioned within the container, the upper edge I4a. lies immediately below the leaves I3 of the hinge.

The contents of the package may be removed as is customary, until `such time that diiculty is encountered in reaching the contents, when the package 22 may be raised upwardly from the container until the bottom thereof passes slightly above the upper edge of th`e extension Il. As soon as the package passes such point, the portions 2| exert a spring-like action on the portions I8, moving them outwardly toward the main body portion I4, substantially as shown in Figure 3, With this position of the portions I8 and 2|, the package 22 will come to rest upon the upper edges thereof, and thus support the package in ready access for removal of the balance of the contents.

Any tendency for upward movement of the insert when raising the package will be prevented by engagement of the edge I4-a with the hinge leaves I3, so that the insert will be stripped from the package and will always be maintained in proper position upon the base of the can.

The insert may be made of any pliable stock material best suited for the purpose to effect movement of the portions I8 and 2l, as described and shown, and such material will have sufficient strength to withstand any longitudinal stresses in ordinary uses. However, where found necessary or desirable, a reinforcing strip 23 may be associated with the insert as shown in Figures 9 and 13.

In Figures 4 to 8, I have illustrated a modified form of the insert in which the main body I4 includes the folded portions I8 and 2|' and the extension I1 is of shorter height. This form is intended to be frictionally retained within the container and does not depend upon engagement with the leaves of the hinge for its retention.

In the final form of this insert, as shown in Figures 10 to l2, the main body portion I4" embodies single spring flaps I8" and base member I6 of a width substantially the same as the package to be contained. This form is likewise intended to be frictionally retained within a container From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have presented a very simple means for maintaining packaged goods in an elevated position within a container, which-adds but very little to the costs of present-day packaging of goods, yet actually fulllls an urgent need. It will also be appreciated that the incorporation of my device in a package offers no difliculty in packing, since the insert embraces the package and may be readily inserted with in a container in the customary manner. It will be apparent that advertising matter may be printed upon the insert setting forth the quality of the goods or otherwise.

While I have specically shown and described several forms of the insert, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in structure as fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, a receptacle having a hinged closure, portions of the hinge being presented inwardly of the receptacle; an inner package for the receptacle, a body member on the inner package having parallel extensions and a base member, one 0f said extensions being of a length extending from the hinge portions to the base of the receptacle, the other of said extensions having a length approximately one-half th'e height of the receptacle, said last named extension having foldable portions normally engaging one side of the package, but expansible to positions beneath the bottom of the package upon partial withdrawal of the package whereby to support said package in an elevated position within the container. v

2. In combination, a receptacle having a hinged closure, portions of th'e hinge being presented inwardly of the receptacle; an inner package for the receptacle, a body member on the inner package having parallel extensions and a base member, one of said extensions being of a length extending from the hinge portions to the base of the receptacle, the other of said extensions having a length approximately one-half the height 0f the-receptacle, said last named extension having respective inwardly folded portions positioned between the extension and the package, said folded portions having a free swinging end cooperable with the extension to move said folded portions beneath the bottom of the package upon partial withdrawal thereof whereby to support said package in an elevated position Within the container.

3. An insert for containers of the type including an inner package, comprising a substantially U-shaped body formed from pliable material adapted to engage a package upon opposite sides and frictionally engage the sides of a container, and said body having vertically folded portions normally adjacent one side of the package but movable to positions beneath and across the bottom of the package upon partial withdrawal of the package from the container.

4. An insert for containers of the type including an inner package. comprising a substantially U-shaped body formed from pliable material adapted to partly embrace the inner package, said body member having a pair of folded portions normally engaging the package and of a height lessthan the package and movable to positions beneath' the bottom of the packagefupon partial withdrawal thereof, said folded portions being of a width greater than the width of the package whereby .to extend across the base of the package for support of the package when in elevated position within the container.

FRANK CHESLEY. 

